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In areas of the world affected by conflict and armed violence, we work closely with youths to empower them to become conflict mediators and community builders who are our local partners in the pursuit of peace and sustainable development.
Our work is guided by the philosophy that people are better able to create transformative change when they work together.
WPDI’s peacebuilding, outreach, and educational programs impact hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Specifically, our goals seek to:
Empower youths
To support a new generation of youth leaders and community builders by training young people in peacebuilding, conflict mediation, business and entrepreneurship, and information and communications technology (ICT).
Strengthen communities
To promote innovation and the development of youth-led small businesses and other projects to help communities grow, thrive, and overcome obstacles to break perpetual cycles of violence.
Promote education and connectivity
To build hubs of learning, connectivity, and engagement through our network of Community Learning Centers (CLCs) at which people have the ability to access knowledge and the Internet.
Disseminate peace
To spread the values of peace, dialogue, tolerance, and inclusion – and to raise awareness of global injustices – around the world.
Through so doing, we seek to help communities affected by conflict become more resilient, peaceful, and prosperous.
Our leadership
Our founder, artist and social activist - Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker believes that, in order to attain peace and prosperity, communities and nations must heed the voices of their diverse and vibrant youths. He is the founder and CEO of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI). Through WPDI, he has developed the Youth Peacemaker Network, a global peacebuilding social network with hubs in South Sudan, South Africa, Uganda, the United States, and Mexico. He and WPDI are committed to providing educational tools and economic opportunities to young women and men in regions affected by conflict and armed conflict.
Forest Whitaker is also co-founder of the International Institute for Peace, UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, and a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group. He is dedicated to cultivating youths’ artistic talents. As a member of former President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, he also worked closely with elementary school students to demonstrate the limitless power of the arts to express their voices and creative energies.
True to his belief in the potential of youths, Forest Whitaker works, through his production company, Significant Productions, to support young, talented filmmakers. He views film as a medium that can enlighten people across the globe. He has produced several award-winning documentaries that touch on a wide range of social issues.